Organic Certification Process in India: Cost & Timeline

Organic Certification Process in India: Cost, Timeline & Documentation

Posted on January 25, 2026

In India, the growing demand for organic produce is currently increasing, and consumers are looking for certified products for quality and trust. At present, in India, two types of Organic certification system exists, namely the Third Party certification National Programme for Organic Production (NPOP) system, which is governed by APEDA, Ministry of Commerce, which is mainly focused on export purpose and the second one is PGS-INDIA -Participatory Guarantee System. PGS-India is governed by the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, mainly focused on the local/domestic market.

NPOP Certification Process Overview

For Individual Farmers

Application: Apply to an accredited certification body (CB) with details of the farm, crops that are grown in the area, and the farming practices.
Inspection by CB: After reviewing the application. Then On-site inspection is scheduled by CB. In this field visit, input details, records of all activities, and compliance with NPOP standards was verify.
Conversion Period: A typical 2–3 year conversion period of transition from conventional to organic farming is required on the basis of crops and area.
Certification Decision: Based on compliance and inspection reports observed during onsite inspection/documentation, CB confirmed the certificate as an organic grower.
Annual Renewal: Certification is valid for one year and then requires re-inspection for renewal as same.
Documentation: Maintain farm records, input purchase bills, and crop management logs in the given formats.

For Grower Groups

Farmers Group and its legal entity- Farmers group having similar production systems and having same geographical region. (up to 50 km radius from the registered location). Then registered a group and made their legal identity as a society, FPO/FPC.
Internal Control System (ICS): The Internal Control System (ICS) is a system where all the NPOP compliances are practically followed. Development of an Internal Control System (ICS) containing policies and procedures, Creation of awareness about Grower Group Certification, and Review and improvement of the ICS document.
Application: The grower group collectively submits to a certification body with several farmers and the total area for certification.
External Inspection: The certification body inspects the ICS at the time of standing crop. Field visits were conducted with randomly selected farmers within the group, and all documentation, training details, and NPOP Standard were checked.
Certification: Certificate issued to the group as a whole, farmers in the group known as the Scope certificate, not to individual members.
Annual Renewal: Requires continued functioning of the rower group certification. CB conducts external audits every year as a renewal.
Cost Efficiency: More affordable than individual certification since costs are distributed within the group.

PGS-INDIA Certification Overview

PGS-India (Participatory Guarantee System for Organic Certification) is a community-based, pre-review certification system recognized by the Government of India. It is designed for small and marginal farmers, emphasizing trust, transparency, and collective responsibility rather than third-party audits.

Application: Small and marginal farmers, producer groups, cooperatives, and NGOs can participate. Individual farmers can join only through a local group/cluster. Focus is on domestic markets; PGS is not suitable for exports.
Cluster Formation: At least 5 farmers from a local group can apply for a PGS certificate.
Registration: Cluster registers on the official PGS-India portal.
Peer Review: Farmers inspect each other’s fields and practices,
Documentation: Maintain farm diaries, input records, and inspection reports.
Approval: Local group issues certification after peer review and consensus.
Validity: Certification is valid for one year; renewal requires re-inspection.
Labelling & Marketing: Certified products carry the PGS-India Green Logo. Labels must include farmer/group name, certification year, and cluster details.

Key Differences: PGS-India & NPOP

Feature	PGS-India Certification	NPOP Certification
Type	Peer-review, participatory	Third-party audit
Cost	Very low / community-based	High, professional audits
Scope	Domestic markets only	Domestic + Export
Authority	Local groups + Regional Councils	Accredited certification bodies (CB)
Suitability	Small/marginal farmers	Export-oriented, larger farms